“All of my Lysians are at your disposal. We will all help,” I stated, knowing that was not exactly what she meant by it. So, my assumptions of him, perhaps being a conjuror, proved correct.
Ariana’s gaze flickered to my brother once more, and she inclined her head towards me. As if inviting him to elaborate.
Iver sighed, drawing my attention. “She means I will help with my conjuring.”
I always suspected he harbored a gift. Yet hearing his admission still stirred something uncomfortable within my chest.
My gaze narrowed. “And why now?” He had years to step up, to help. However, he never did.
“Ariana says she trusts you with her life,” he stated.
I release an irritated breath. “So, you place so much weight on her opinion of me? A woman you hardly know. Over me, your brother.” I was trying to keep my growing anger from escalating.
“If your prisoner trusts you that much then, yes.” Iver shrugged as if it were that simple.
“She was...” The words died on my lips. Ariana had been my prisoner. That fact weighed on me.
“Iver’s conjuring is impressive,” Ariana said, breaking the tense stare between my brother and me. “He is more of a threat to my people than even you are.” She took a single small step towards me before stilling. “And you will have that power under your command now.”
I snorted, gaze slicing to Iver. “I always had that power. Iletyou keep everything a secret.”
He nodded, accepting the truth of my words. “You did. You’ve never known the extent of my conjuring, however, and still don’t. I am not so sure you would have had the same restraint if you’d known sooner. In fact, you likely would have used me here when you went on your mission to break the treaty. A lot more Bavadrin lives would have been taken.”
My jaw clenched.
Ariana took another step towards us. “Even if you would have conjured, Erik would have still heard me call out his name when he was about to… take a life.” Ariana’s attention settled on me, her face softening. Hurt swam in her eyes as she remembered the day I broke free and captured her. The significance of those emotions only compounded with the torment Landin’s death brought her. “I do not doubt that Iver’s conjuring wouldn’t have changed how things progressed between us after that.” She then turned to Iver. “This is useless to discuss. Just show him what you can do.”
“Very well.” Iver took two steps towards me. However, before his second step, there was a brief disorientation before him, and it was as if he had walked through something. He vanished, only to reappear in another corner of the room.
That was not the end of his tricks.
He then held up his hand,fireburning from his fingertips.
It was remarkable.
“How is that possible? You have more than one conjuring ability?” I could hardly grasp it.
Iver shrugged. “Conjuring intrigued me, and so I learned.”
Surely, I misheard. “You simplylearnedall of this?”
“Yes.”
“If Ariana was to show you what she can do, how long would it take you to learn it?”
“It depends on the complexity. It’s always different.”
Ariana’s head tilted as if in thought. “Then who taught you to reappear in another location?”
“No one teaches me, but I suppose that is beside the point. I used to have a friend who vanished long ago. She couldn’t move her body the way I could, but she could multiply and move objects. I found her gift so fascinating.”
Ariana frowned, intently watching Iver. “Show me.”
Iver casually looked around the room, leisurely walking through it. He stopped at a desk and picked up a feather quill. There was a brief glimmering distortion next to his hand, and when he moved the feather through it, several feathers surrounded him, suspended in the air.
“Malavika.” The name was barely a whisper on her lips, yet it drew our attention like lightning. We knew that name.
“Where have you heard that?” Iver pulled the feather back, his hand dropping at his side.
